After releasing 300 copies of two of their songs, the band was discovered by, and eventually signed with, independent label Warp Records in 2004, releasing their critically-acclaimed debut album A Certain Trigger" in May 2005. Widely described as one of the best British albums of the year, the album helped the band develop a strong and diverse fanbase both in the UK and abroad, and also earned them a nomination for the coveted Mercury Music Prize. Three songs from the record, Apply Some Pressure (re-released), Graffiti and Going Missing, reached the Top 20 in the UK music charts in 2005. Maxïmo Park also contributed a song titled Wasteland to the War Child album Help: A Day in the Life, midway through that year. The final single from A Certain Trigger, I Want You To Stay, was released in the United Kingdom on February 20, 2006.
Maxïmo Park's second album, Our Earthly Pleasures was released on April 2, 2007. Singles included Our Velocity, Girls Who Play Guitars, Books From Boxes and Karaoke Plays. In August 2008 Paul Smith announced that the band had finished recording their third album and were looking for someone to produce it. It is expected for release in early 2009.
As a result of their rapidly increasing popularity both in the United Kingdom and overseas, 2005 also proved to be a highly exciting year for the band from a touring perspective, with a number of successful tours of Europe, as well as supporting The Bravery in the United States and performing a number of sellout shows in Japan and Australia. While performing across Europe at the Glastonbury and Lowlands music festivals and the Carling Weekend, their enormous success in the United Kingdom was confirmed through their place as support for Kaiser Chiefs on the NME Rock and Roll Riot Tour, and their appearance at the XFM Winter Wonderland shows in London in December of 2005. In a similar vein, the band headlined the NME Awards Tour in the UK, featuring Arctic Monkeys, Mystery Jets and We Are Scientists, and expanded their presence in Asia by performing in Thailand as part of the Rock 100 Festival in Bangkok.
The The National Health Songfacts reports that Maximo's Park fourth album relates to the state of society at large: "The nation is out of control," said Paul Smith, "and the record is about taking back control, and being a force for change in your own life. It can't speak for everybody but it has its eyes and ears all around us. Our songs are built on empathy. I would hope it's as vital a music as people would want to hear." The National Health will be released June 11, 2012.
The band also enjoys playing in their hometown, Newcastle. In early 2007, despite global success, they decided to play in three small venues and price tickets at only £5. These venues were The Head Of Steam, The Cumberland Arms and The Cluny. The band also headlined Freevolution 2007, a free outdoor music festival in Newcastle/Gateshead sponsored by Orange phones.
Graffiti
Maxïmo Park Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can't take anymore
I'm right out of vision
I'm right out of hope
You set me up
You just knock me down
What's on your conscience
I'll do Graffiti if you sing to me in French
What are we doing here if romance isn't dead?
Mind your mouth, as you work with me
Take it all, as you cross the street
Well that's enough!
I've had it up to here
I've lost my vision
I've lost my hope
You work me up
Just hand me down
You've lost your conscience
'cause nothing happens in my town
I'll do Graffiti if you sing to me in French
What are we doing here if romance isn't dead?
Stay in line, on the Foreign trip
We can ohhh but I need a lift
I'll do Graffiti if you sing to me in French
What are we doing here if romance isn't dead?
Stay in line, on the Foreign trip
We can ohh-ohh but I need a lift, and that's enough!
The Maxïmo Park song "Graffiti" is a fast-paced indie rock track about feeling stuck and frustrated with life. With urgent guitar riffs and Paul Smith's distinctive vocals, the song highlights the experience of being let down by someone who was supposed to support you. The opening lines "Well that's enough! I can't take anymore" sets the tone of the song with Smith showing utter frustration and exhaustion. The verse "You set me up, You just knock me down. What's on your conscience, Nothing happens in my town" seems to encapsulate the idea that the world can be unfair and the people around us can be deceitful, with Smith questioning whether they have any moral compass at all.
The chorus of the song, "I'll do Graffiti if you sing to me in French, What are we doing here if romance isn't dead? Stay in line, on the Foreign trip, We can ohh-ohh but I need a lift, and that's enough!" is enigmatic and seems to allude to a sense of rebellion and escape from the monotony of everyday life. The desire to do graffiti, an illegal and creative form of expression, is juxtaposed with the idea of romance being dead, all the while Smith is struggling to find something to cling onto in his life. The overall message of the song seems to be one of defiance; Smith is saying that he is tired of the status quo, and if there is nothing for him in his current reality, he is willing to take chances and create his own path.
Line by Line Meaning
Well that's enough!
I've had enough and can't take it anymore.
I can't take anymore
I am emotionally drained and have reached my limit.
I'm right out of vision
I can't see any possible solution or way out of this situation.
I'm right out of hope
I have lost all optimism and belief in a better future.
You set me up
You deliberately deceived me or created a difficult situation for me.
You just knock me down
You continuously bring me down emotionally or physically.
What's on your conscience
What are the guilty thoughts or feelings that you are struggling with?
Nothing happens in my town
My environment or situation is stagnant and lacks any exciting or meaningful changes.
I'll do Graffiti if you sing to me in French
I will engage in risky or rebellious behavior if you provide me with something I desire.
What are we doing here if romance isn't dead?
What's the point of living if love and passion have ceased to exist?
Mind your mouth, as you work with me
Be careful of what you say or do as we work together.
Take it all, as you cross the street
Endure all the hardships or obstacles that come your way as you move through life.
I've lost my vision
I can no longer see a clear future or direction for myself.
You work me up
You intentionally provoke or frustrate me.
Just hand me down
You treat me as if I'm not worthy of respect or attention.
You've lost your conscience
You no longer have a moral compass or sense of right and wrong.
'Cause nothing happens in my town
The lack of excitement or opportunity in my environment has caused people to lose their sense of morality.
Stay in line, on the Foreign trip
Stay in control and focused during unexpected or unfamiliar situations.
We can ohhh but I need a lift
We can find enjoyment or excitement, but I need something to lift my spirits.
And that's enough!
I have had enough and can no longer tolerate this situation.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sentric Music
Written by: DUNCAN ROBERT LLOYD, PAUL ANTHONY SMITH, THOMAS ALEXANDER ENGLISH, ARCHIS TIKU, LUKAS JAMES WOOLLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@phoule76
That’s enough, I can’t take anymore
I’m right out of vision, I’m right out of hope
You stood me up, just knock me down
What’s on your conscience? nothing happens in my town
I’ll do graffiti if you sing to me in French
What are we doing here if romance isn’t dead?
Mind your mouth as you walk with me
Take care ooh oh as you cross the street
Well that’s enough, I’ve had it up to here
I’ve lost my vision, I’ve lost my hope
You woke me up, just hand me down
You’ve lost your conscience, cause nothing happens in my town
I’ll do graffiti if you sing to me in French
What are we doing here if romance isn’t dead?
Stay in line on the foreign trip
Waking up and I need a lift
I’ll do graffiti if you sing to me in French
What are we doing here if romance isn’t dead?
Stay in line on the foreign trip
Waking up and I need a lift down to…
That’s enough
@hardcorerabanrkkennedyjnr1115
most under rated bands in the uk ever ,,brilliant love all there stuff
@Osc1llateW1ldly
Kubichek!
@lordkuso2710
always reminds me of "those" days...
@puccini4
which days?
@karnlaffoley8938
This song reminds me of a very special girl I met back at the end of 2005. We took in concerts & festivals where Maximo Park were playing over the next 3-5 years. Cant listen to any of their albums without thinking about her and wondering what she's doing now.
@chrisburton790
Jesus, that's fucked up, I'm the same
@BeauFitts
Likewise pal..
@jacquesmesrine8031
bro what is it that everybody has this "summer romance" vibe around Maximo Park? almost like they are a summer rock n roll band when theyre from a pretty fuckin rainy place haha... almost like Simple Minds being from Glasgow were the soundtrack to California summers in the 80s.
Now, lets talk about how theyre also so related to "that girl" that smelled incredible and that was gorgeous but was defo not the one. Is like everyone into Maximo Park has had their own kind of Zooey Deschanel.
What a band...
@ryanmcgeown
@Jacques Mesrine p
@muhammadanuar2882
miserably inadequate